Local fans got their first glimpse of three-year-old pacing colt Why Not Now in the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes Monday, May 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Always a Virgin colt earned the win in impressive fashion in 1:49.1.
Why Not Now and Trace Tetrick kept their perfect 2023 record in tact in their seasonal debut at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, winning by open lengths in the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes action. Photo by Dean Gillette
Why Not Now teamed up with Harrah’s Hoosier Park Leading Driver Trace Tetrick for his seasonal debut in the 12th race of the special Memorial Day racing program. The two started from post five and rallied hard to the lead at the start, securing the top spot in :27.0. From there, Why Not Now was in full control, passing by the half in :55.1 before beginning to open up on the field. Around the turn, his dominance became more evident as the sophomore opened up even more. He rallied home in :26.0 and won the race by four and three-quarter lengths, pacing home in :26.0. Buzzsaw Russ and John DeLong moved in for second over Always Floating and Jordan Ross for third.
Why Not Now was the favorite of the field, paying $3.20 for the win. The Always a Virgin colt is owned by Howard Taylor, Dylan Davis and Jeff Billings. Davis also trains the colt, who has some history in his barn.
Why Not Now is a full brother to the standout Indiana pacer Virgo, who has campaigned a brilliant career out of the Davis Stable for his owners, including Howard Taylor. Virgo is still racing and closing in on a half-million in earnings. The younger sibling of the mare Star of the Show, Why Not Now, has started his 2023 off with a bang, winning all four of his starts so far, including three straight at Harrah’s Philadelphia. He was winless last year in nine starts. The win in the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes is a new lifetime mark for the pacer, who now has more than $132,000 on his card.
In the other division of sophomore pacing colts and geldings, Coach Stefanos took the lead after the half and rallied home to an open length lead with Trace Tetrick in the bike. The duo covered the mile in 1:49.4, winning by three and one-half lengths for trainer Erv Miller. Coach Stefanos is owned by Kenneth Duffy, D & M Trading II, and his namesake, Coach John Stefanos, all of Illinois. Coach Stefanos had a very successful two-year-old campaign last year, winning six of 11 starts and more than $245,000. The colt is currently one for one in 2023 and his win in the first round of the Indiana Sires Stakes of 1:49.4 was a new lifetime mark.
Undefeated sophomores Ponda Jet and Polk’s Image remained perfect in the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes in their respective divisions. Polk’s Image score her victory in 1:52.0 in the sophomore pacing filly division while Ponda Jet was a winner in the three-year-old colt and gelding trotter ranks in 1:51.4. Polks Image, trained by Jeff Cullipher, was driven by John DeLong for her eighth win in eight starts of 2023. Ponda Jet, trained by Jay Hochstetler, was driven to victory by Kyle Wilfong for his fourth win this year.